The North Central leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has begun the process of finding a replacement for Umar Damagum, the interim National Chairman, ahead of the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting.

The NEC meeting on October 24 was also stressed by the North Central caucus as being critical to the party’s future.

Before and after the general elections in 2023, there was a great deal of internal turmoil inside the PDP.

Damagum has been accused by party members for not enacting meaningful reforms and for being accountable for the party’s problems.

The situation deteriorated when Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the PDP Governors’ Forum were openly criticised by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike over the party’s organisational structure.

Consequently, this prolonged struggle has damaged the party’s brand and reduced its influence.

Therefore, in line with PDP Constitution Section 47(6), which says that “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure of the officer,” North Central stakeholders are demanding Damagum’s replacement.

A senior North Central NEC member, who wished to remain unnamed, told The DAILYPULSE that the zone had begun the search for a replacement, who will be introduced at the meeting on October 24.

According to the source, the PDP’s survival depends on the outcome of the 99th NEC conference, and the zone intends to submit a single name for confirmation. The North Central caucus just convened in Abuja and decided as much.

Yes, that is correct—we met at the Stratton Hotel in Abuja. Conrad Utaan, the leader of the party, and other individuals, as well as former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, will be chosen by the zone.

In actuality, during our most recent meeting, we heard from Utaan and a few other candidates, and we will speak with more shortly. At the North Central Zonal Executive Committee meeting, we shall get together once more. Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State and the leader of the party in the zone, pledged to confer with other relevant parties and call a ZEC meeting in order to select the most qualified and palatable candidate from the zone to be presented at the NEC meeting on October 25.

The purpose of the Abuja North Central Caucus meeting is to guarantee that nominations and the October 24 NEC are held. In contrast to previous NEC postponements, a number of party leaders are now pressing that the meeting must take place on the scheduled day.

“To allow the North Central zone to submit a single nomination to the NEC, numerous meetings will be held in the upcoming days.”

Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP’s immediate former national publicity secretary, backed with The PUNCH’s source by cautioning against future NEC postponements.

North Central NEC member Ologunagba made it clear that the meeting would be vital in choosing Damagum’s replacement.

“Of course, we will meet again. The North Central Caucus met,” he said. We decided the NEC date that the NWC had announced must stand. In any case, it ought to be possible for us to meet together and decide how the celebration will proceed.

That NEC is largely responsible for a lot. At the upcoming NEC, which is scheduled for October 24, I firmly believe that the party will make a definitive decision regarding Damagum’s replacement.

Stakeholders in the party are aiming for that date and are aware of Damagum’s group’s scheme to push back the meeting.We would want to caution that stakeholders will not accept the postponing of the NEC meeting lightly.

Conrad Utaan, the candidate for National Chairman, added that he was interviewed by the North Central Caucus for two hours.

In an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Utaan revealed this and expressed the hope that a name would be submitted at the meeting on October 24 as a result of ongoing consultations in the North Central Zone.

“I recently gave a two-hour speech to the party’s North Central Executive Committee,” he declared. They were moved by what I had to say. I am aware that there is a person from Benue and that some people are also running from Kogi. Therefore, the party’s zonal leadership will apply its own microzoning methodology when the chips are down.

Thus, I do not anticipate that North Central will mention multiple names at the NEC on October 24. It’s not a national convention, as all of you know. That is not necessary; a new chairman will emerge if North Central comes up with a nominee and submits it to the NEC on October 24. After the nomination is approved, that person will become the PDP’s new, official chairman.

“The party’s zonal leadership is assessing each candidate and selecting a name either prior to or during the NEC meeting.”

Damagum and Debo Ologunagba, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, did not pick up when our correspondent called or texted them, thus we were unable to get a reaction for this story.